Tony-winning actor from 'Hello, Dolly!' was 48

Broadway actor Gavin Creel died on Monday at the age of 48.

Tony-nominated star known for his starring roles in Thoroughly modern Millie, hair and the recent revival of Into the forestamong other things and his involvement and positivity in the Broadway community, died in July 2024 after being diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering before moving home to hospice care.

His death was confirmed by his partner Alex Temple Ward.

Known for his energetic and exuberant performances on Broadway and his resonant voice, Creel won a Tony Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl, the shopkeeper who can't wait to see New York, opposite legends Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! Director: Jerry Zaks. He most recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of Into the forestin which he plays the silly “Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf” with Sara Bareilles, a friend with whom he also starred Waitress.

Just last winter, Creel appeared off-Broadway Move On: Confessions of a Museum Newbiea musical for which Creel wrote and composed 17 songs, which is about his own experience falling in love with the Metropolitan Museum of Art after receiving a commission from the museum.

He celebrated his breakthrough in 2022 with the role of Jimmy Smith alongside rising star Sutton Foster in the Broadway production of ” Thoroughly modern Millie. He received a Tony nomination for this role and then continued that momentum into other roles, including the role of Jean-Michel in the revival of ” La Cage Aux Folles.

He returned to Broadway as Claude Hooper Bukowski, climbing through the audience as the long-haired leader of a hippie group protesting the Vietnam War, in the 2009 revival of “The Public Theater.” hairopposite Will Swenson. During this production, Creel became a loud voice in the theater community advocating for the passage of the federal marriage equality law and co-founded the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact with Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos. The group raised money to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, and Creel was sold hairasked producers to cancel an appearance so that the company could attend the 2009 Equality March in Washington DC.

Creel also appeared in the West End as Bert in 2006 Mary Poppins and reprized his role in the West End transmission of hair in 2010. Creel then won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for his role as Elder Price The Book of Mormon, which he also played on tour in the USA and would play on Broadway.

In addition to his performance in Hello, Dolly! Creel appeared in the 2016 revival of She Loves Me alongside Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski.

Gavin was born on April 18, 1976 to James and Nancy Creel and grew up in Findlay, Ohio, where he demonstrated an aptitude for singing, performing and directing. He was introduced to musicals by an elementary school teacher, Nancy Glick, and after singing “Gary, Indiana” from Meredith Wilson's songs The Music Manwas sold on the medium for life.

After graduating from Findlay High School in 1994, Gavin attended the musical theater department at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1998. There he met his singing teacher and lifelong friend, Melody Racine, with whom he studied during college and in the years afterward.

Even after graduating, Gavin returned to Michigan regularly to give master classes, give voice lessons, and work with students while developing his own material. He and his best friend and Michigan alumnus Celia Keenan-Bolger founded the Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund Encourage students to become involved in social justice issues during their school years. He also organized a retirement party for department head Brent Wagner at the August Wilson Theater in New York City in 2016 Maize & Blue on Broadway.

In addition to his stage work, Creel played the singing waiter Bill in the films Eloise in the Plaza And Eloise at Christmas time alongside Dame Julie Andrews. In 2021, he was cast in the Ryan Murphy miniseries. American horror storiesalongside Matt Bomer, and in 2022 Gavin's solo concert was filmed for the first episode of PBS Stars on stage at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Creel also wrote his own music, including pop songs inspired by artists such as Whitney Houston, and produced several albums with Robbie Roth, including Good time (2006), Quiet (2010), Exit (2012) and his single Noise (2011), which raised funds and awareness for marriage equality.

In 2019, Creel received a commission from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's MetLiveArts division, which led to the production of Move On: Confessions of a Museum Newbie.

He is survived by his mother Nancy Clemens Creel and his father James Wiliiam Creel, his sisters Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel and her wife Jen Kolb, his partner Alex Temple Ward and his dog Nina.

The funeral service is private. A memorial is planned at a later date. The family requests that gifts in Gavin's memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.